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New River
Tiny Turtle
More bog turtles live in
the New River Basin than
any other river basin in
the state. Weigh ing only
4 ounces, the bog turtle
is one of the rarest turtles
in North America and
is federally listed as a
threat ened species.
Destruc tion of hab itat
and illegal collec tion of
turtles for the pet trade
have caused pop ula -
tions to dwindle.
T he New River is thought to be one of the oldest rivers in the world. Some geologists
estimate its age at 300 million years old. This clean, clear river begins as two streams
on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Watauga County. The
North Fork and South Fork converge in Ashe County as the
New River, which flows northward into Virginia and loops back
to tag North Carolina before continuing into Virginia.
profile:
Total miles of
streams and rivers:
918 miles
Municipalities
within basin: 6
Counties
within basin: 3
Size: 752
square miles
Population:
49,693
( 2000 U. S. Census)
The river winds and cuts its way through meta -
morphic rock over a billion years old. But its age
is not all that distinguishes the river. A sense of
proud ownership also surrounds the New, which
has been embraced by residents in the basin and
admirers from around the country.
In 1998, President Clinton visited and named the New River an American Heritage River, an
honor he bestowed on only 13 other rivers in the nation. The designa tion brings with it fed -
erally funded, community- driven initiatives for protect ing the river and for guiding sus tain able
growth in the basin. The lower
South Fork New River and the
North Carolina portion of the
New River— 26 miles— are desig -
nated as National Scenic Rivers.
That stretch is also classified by
the state as Out stand ing Resource
Waters because of its recre ational
and ecological importance and its
excellent water qual ity.
Steward ship is a tradition in the
New River Basin— in the early
1970s, resi dents banded together
to prevent dams from being built
on the New in North Carolina
and Virginia. The river’s multiple
scenic designa tions
now ensure that
the river will con -
tinue to flow freely.
KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC
NEWRIVER
BASIN
NCWRC

New River
Tiny Turtle
More bog turtles live in
the New River Basin than
any other river basin in
the state. Weigh ing only
4 ounces, the bog turtle
is one of the rarest turtles
in North America and
is federally listed as a
threat ened species.
Destruc tion of hab itat
and illegal collec tion of
turtles for the pet trade
have caused pop ula -
tions to dwindle.
T he New River is thought to be one of the oldest rivers in the world. Some geologists
estimate its age at 300 million years old. This clean, clear river begins as two streams
on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Watauga County. The
North Fork and South Fork converge in Ashe County as the
New River, which flows northward into Virginia and loops back
to tag North Carolina before continuing into Virginia.
profile:
Total miles of
streams and rivers:
918 miles
Municipalities
within basin: 6
Counties
within basin: 3
Size: 752
square miles
Population:
49,693
( 2000 U. S. Census)
The river winds and cuts its way through meta -
morphic rock over a billion years old. But its age
is not all that distinguishes the river. A sense of
proud ownership also surrounds the New, which
has been embraced by residents in the basin and
admirers from around the country.
In 1998, President Clinton visited and named the New River an American Heritage River, an
honor he bestowed on only 13 other rivers in the nation. The designa tion brings with it fed -
erally funded, community- driven initiatives for protect ing the river and for guiding sus tain able
growth in the basin. The lower
South Fork New River and the
North Carolina portion of the
New River— 26 miles— are desig -
nated as National Scenic Rivers.
That stretch is also classified by
the state as Out stand ing Resource
Waters because of its recre ational
and ecological importance and its
excellent water qual ity.
Steward ship is a tradition in the
New River Basin— in the early
1970s, resi dents banded together
to prevent dams from being built
on the New in North Carolina
and Virginia. The river’s multiple
scenic designa tions
now ensure that
the river will con -
tinue to flow freely.
KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC
NEWRIVER
BASIN
NCWRC